A message from President Cyril Ramaphosa
FROM THE UNION BUILDINGS
Rising cost
of living calls for a united response
O
ver the past few months, South Afri-
oil recording the highest
Both countries are major
can consumers have
increases.
exporters to international
been hit by steep price in-
We recently announced
markets of fertilisers, grains
that the fuel levy will be
creases that have dramatically
affects the price of almost
and oilseeds that are needed
suspended for another two
affected their quality of life.
everything else, has risen by
for a range of items such as
months to August, which will
a third in the twelve months
cooking oil.
bring some relief to house-
It has become increasingly more expensive to buy food and other essentials, to pay for basic services and to use public or private transporta-
to March 2022. South Africa is not alone in this regard. A recently published poll
holds. The suspension of the
Another factor is lower agricultural output due to ex-
levy has provided essential
treme weather events caused
relief to South Africans since
by climate change, such as
it began in April. Since the
flooding and droughts.
suspension of the levy comes
tion. While these rising costs
for the World Economic
affect everyone, low-income
Forum shows that nearly a
households are feeling them
quarter of people globally,
are beyond our control, gov-
finances, which affects other
the most.
including those in developed
ernment is doing what it can
programmes of government,
economies, are struggling fi-
to shield the South African
it will be difficult to continue
Index for April 2022 pub-
nancially due to rising prices.
from current and future price
this indefinitely.
lished by Stats SA shows
These increases, particu-
The latest Consumer Price
8
The price of fuel, which
are experiencing.
While many of these events
increases.
at a significant cost to public
There are, however, other
there has been little respite
larly the price of fuel, are
for hard-pressed South
the consequence of events
vantages as a country is a
Africans. Food inflation was
over which we have little
strong, independent Reserve
security is vital to withstand-
recorded at 6.2 percent.
control. The ongoing conflict
Bank that has managed to
ing this and future shocks.
The most basic foodstuffs
between Russia and Ukraine
keep inflation within a nar-
We have a strong agricultural
cost more than a year ago,
has had a significant impact
row target range, well below
sector that continues to grow
with staples like cooking
on the price of fuel and food.
what many other countries
and create jobs.
One of our greatest ad-
things we can do. Improving our nation’s food
Public Sector Manager • June 2022
